Istanbul is one of those cities that I fell in love with late in life. While two of my good friends from my college days in New York are from Istanbul and we all visited in our twenties, I only remember how horribly sick I got after eating Tavuk göğsü, a sweet chicken pudding (just googling the name and seeing the images brought it all back). It took me more than 15 years to return and for it to click despite Istanbul’s ever-present chicken pudding.
But once it clicked, Istanbul stuck on my mind. Not only because there is so much more to eat in Istanbul than the dish that shall not be named anymore.
Luckily for me, I have done quite a few trips over the last couple of years with Turkish Airlines which brought along a stopover in Istanbul. During my last journey with Turkish Airlines, coming back from my summer in Cape Town I also got to test their free Istanbul day tours
called Touristanbul.
While many airlines offer inexpensive rates for stopovers in their home town, Turkish Airlines also offers an Istanbul layover tour during the day. All you need is an international flight with them and a layover in Istanbul between 6 and 24 hours which is just the right amount of time to explore a little in the city, drink some Turkish tea, and eat some Turkish food.
Even better as it doesn’t matter whether you have been to Istanbul before or not as they have various tours on offer which show you different parts of the city. And needless to say, the tours vary in length and time to fit your layover.
Touristanbul – A free walking Tour in Istanbul
I arrived from Cape Town at the new Istanbul airport at 6 am and made my sleepy way to the Touristanbul counter. It is on the same floor as the arrivals terminal and once you walk out you will need to make your way to exit 13 and will see it across from the exit. Take a number and wait your turn before you get to the counter where you can select your Istanbul city tour. If you are unsure the staff can advise you on which tour is suitable for you depending on how long your layover is.
I had the choice between a tour for 6 hours or one for 9 hours as my layover was the entire day. Since I was more than a little tired (even in the lovely economy class of Turkish Airlines I didn’t sleep more than 2 hours) I chose the shorter tour.
My Istanbul walking tour included a trip to the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome with its various columns, and the Topkapi Palace. In addition, they offered breakfast as well as lunch. Some of the other tours include visits to the Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, and the Galata Tower. If you happen to have your layover at night during the summer months you can even do a free Bosphorus cruise in Istanbul with dinner!
We started our tour with our tour guide Can who lead the way from the terminal to the bus station where our bus for the day was waiting. The drive from Istanbul airport to the city is at least 45 minutes depending on traffic which unfortunately meant for Can that I missed his introduction about the history of Istanbul in favor of a nap.
Once we arrived in Sultanahmet we started the day at our first stop: breakfast. Turkish breakfast staples with cheese, olives, and tea were waiting for us before we made our way to the Blue Mosque. Our visit was perfectly timed not to collide with prayer during which the mosque is closed for 90 minutes each time. Women have to cover their hair but if you don’t have your own scarf you can borrow one for free at the entrance. You will also need to take your shoes off during the visit and there are free plastic bags provided.
Unfortunately, the Blue Mosque is currently undergoing extensive renovations which entailed that none of the blue-tiled dome the mosque is famous for was visible. It was still an interesting visit as Can told us quite a bit about the mosque’s history and its significance for Muslims and the city of Istanbul.
From here the Hippodrome, the Obelisk of Theodosius and Serpentine Column were within walking distance. I will admit that this historic site came as a bit of a surprise – I didn’t realize how fascinating the history of Istanbul and its former inhabitants was nor how cool a single obelisk can be.
Our final stop was the Topkapi Palace which I had never been too. Here we had some free time to roam the courtyards and rooms, admire jewel-crusted daggers, golden thrones, and the view over the Bosphorus. Admittedly you could probably spend the whole day here and not get bored but I was happy enough to have an hour and catch a glimpse before lunch was calling us back.
Some salad, some kebab, and I had just enough time afterward to enjoy a cup of Turkish coffee in the sun before we were heading back to the airport – time flies when you visit Istanbul!
Another hourlong nap and we were back at arrivals and just in time as it started pouring as soon as I got into the building. I was glad to spend the rest of my Istanbul layover stuffing my face with rose and freshly made manti (tiny Turkish ravioli) in the Turkish Airlines lounge (which TK had graciously organized for me even though I was a mere economy class traveler) while watching Netflix.
Mind you, the tour reminded me just how much I love Istanbul and that I need a lot longer stopover during my next trip!
Booking a free walking tour Istanbul with Turkish Airlines
You don’t actually need to book your Touristanbul tour. As long as you have an international ticket and a layover between 6 and 24 hours you are eligible and can just show your ticket at the Touristanbul/ Hotel Desk counter.
All the tours are a combination of bus and walking tour and you can see the various stops, walking distance, time and days the tours are offered on the flyers they have as well as on the Turkish Airlines website here.
If you have valuables or larger hand luggage you can store it in a locker right next to the Touristanbul counter. Prices vary depending on the size between ₺ 40 and ₺ 60 for the day. There are plenty of ATMs in the arrival hall and especially if you are booking a tour with a visit to the Grand Bazaar it pays to have some cash on you as well as to tip your tour guide at the end.
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